WWE Rumors: 24/7 Championship Revives Forgotten Hardcore Division

The WWE needs help in a hurry and introducing a new championship belt could do the trick. Dubbed as the WWE 24/7 title, the new belt was introduced recently at the May 20 edition of WWE Raw, although folks who know their wrestling entertainment history well may consider it the resurrection of the WWE Hardcore title.

And like that belt which was retired way back in 2002, the rules are pretty much similar. All a wrestler has to do is challenge the title holder any time and any place for as long as there is a referee present. The WWE 24/7 belt was introduced no less by someone who knows a thing or two about hardcore, Mick Foley. According to the hardcore legend, the new WWE title was meant to reinforce the notion that a champion must eat, sleep and breathe the title if he wants to be worthy being called the WWE 24/7 title, WWE.com reported.

The craziness immediately started with Titus O’Neil ending up being the first WWE 24/7 champion. It did not take long however before Robert Roode would take a shot at the newly crowned champion and take the belt from him. Before the night was over, R-Truth got in the mix and pinned Roode after he initially made Roode believe that he was there to help but actually diverted the chasing mob to have him all to himself. With the win, the madness is expected to head to WWE SmackDown where the madness will continue.

As things stand now, it is every man for himself. WWE stars who are willing to defend the title at any time need to be on guard always since anyone could be nearby waiting to get their chance and pinning the current champion – with a referee likely stowed away somewhere similar to what R-Truth did with Roode.

The battle cry for the WWE 24/7 champion right now is to trust no one. Holding a WWE title belt is an honor any WWE superstar will want, meaning alliances and friendships are not in play. When it was originally known as the WWE hardcore title, that was in pure display. Among the notable champions include Al Snow, Hardcore Holly, Mankind (aka Mick Foley), the Big Boss Man, and Rob Van Damme.

When Van Damme won the title in 2002, it was unified with the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Mankind was the inaugural champion of the WWE Hardcore title on Nov. 2, 1998, with the title shifting hands a record 240 times. Now, it will be interesting if its reincarnation will help the WWE help improve in the rating game, Daily DDT reported.